To fetch about this form of speech hath thy servant Joab
done
this thing
Feigned a story in such form and manner as had been delivered to
the king, that it might be accommodated and applied to the case
of Absalom, and to transfer it in a figure to the king, to use
the apostle's phrase, ( 1
Corinthians 4:8 ) ;
and my lord [is] wise, according to the wisdom of an angel
of God;
as not only to understand the design of this fable or parable,
but of such sagacity and penetration as to find out the author of
it; and even
to know all [things] that [are] in the earth;
either in the whole world, or rather in the land of Israel; and
it is to be understood not of all actions natural and moral done
by men in it, which would be to ascribe omniscience to him; but
of all political things, all things respecting civil government;
that he had such a spirit of discerning of men and things, that
nothing could be said or done, or scheme formed, but he got
intelligence of it, and insight into it; and which was carrying
the compliment to a great height.
